Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Hartford, CT
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 19 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Hartford
Connecticut
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (5.4%)
21% less violent crime than Hartford
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,957 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 37°F
Rent averages $109/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,154)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $43k less ($198,900 vs $242,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Athens-Clarke County by $5,957/yr
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Income
$5,957
$47,798 vs $41,841/yr
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
21% lower
406.1 vs 515.8 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.6% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.6°F
Hartford
Median Home Value
$43k less
$198,900 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Hartford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $198,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,154 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 ✓ Higher | $41,841 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Hartford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 121,057 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% ✓ Higher | 25.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Hartford's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 19 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 19 and Hartford wins 4. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Athens-Clarke County to Hartford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $198,900 median home), income ($47,798 vs $41,841), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Hartford, CT are about 794 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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